Hide.me Review
Malaysian jurisdiction. 10 GB free. No-logs since 2012.
Hide.me has been operating under a no-logs policy since 2012 — before most mainstream VPNs made privacy a marketing priority. The Malaysian incorporation gives it a meaningful jurisdictional advantage: no 5 Eyes membership, no EU data retention mandates, no Investigatory Powers Act. Combined with the most generous free tier among privacy-focused VPNs, it's an underrated choice.
Our scores
Hide.me
Overall score — April 2026
Hide.me is the best combination of free tier and privacy jurisdiction we've tested. Malaysian incorporation keeps it outside US, UK, and EU legal frameworks. The 10 GB/month free tier with 5 server locations is the most generous free offering among privacy-focused VPNs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Malaysia jurisdiction — outside 5/9/14 Eyes and EU data retention directives
- 10 GB/month free tier with access to 5 server locations — no payment info required
- No-logs policy since 2012 — one of the first VPNs independently audited (2015), most recently by Securitum in 2024, plus VPN Trust Initiative re-accreditation
- Stealth Guard feature blocks internet if VPN drops — more configurable than standard kill switch
- SSTP protocol support — useful in corporate environments that block OpenVPN/WireGuard
Cons
- Smaller server network (2,600+) compared to NordVPN or CyberGhost
- Streaming reliability is inconsistent — Netflix US works but BBC iPlayer is hit-or-miss
- Desktop apps are functional but less polished than tier-1 competitors
- Free tier 10 GB limit is low for heavy users
Speed
625 Mbps
Download
395 Mbps
Upload
12 ms
Latency
82%
Speed kept
625 Mbps average — 82% speed retention with WireGuard. Solid performance across European and US servers. Asian servers are slower, as expected from Malaysian infrastructure routing. The free tier is not speed-limited — the only restriction is the 10 GB/month data cap.
Tested: . 1 Gbps base connection.
Privacy & Security
Malaysian jurisdiction is the strongest among non-privacy-specialist VPNs in our database. No documented history of data requests or compliance incidents. Hide.me was one of the first VPNs independently audited (2015) and has kept the practice current — Securitum audited the no-logs policy again in 2024, alongside VPN Trust Initiative re-accreditation, putting it in the same privacy tier as ProtonVPN or Mullvad rather than behind them. Port forwarding support — useful for advanced torrenting setups — is rare among privacy-forward VPNs.
Streaming
Netflix US, Germany, and Japan work reliably. BBC iPlayer success rate was 70% in testing — inconsistent. Disney+ worked in most tests. Not optimized for streaming in the way CyberGhost is, but adequate for casual use.
Pricing
$12.99/mo
Monthly
$4.99/mo
Annual plan
billed annually
$2.69/mo
2-year plan
billed every 2 years
At $4.99/month annual (or $2.69/month on the longest, roughly 26-month plan), pricing is competitive. The free tier (10 GB/month, no payment info) is the most compelling entry point among privacy-focused VPNs. SSTP protocol support is a niche but real advantage in corporate or school network environments.
Cancellation & Refund
Hide.me offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on every plan. Cancel within that window and you're entitled to a full refund.
How to cancel Hide.me
- Log in to your account on the Hide.me website (not just the app) with the email you signed up with.
- Open your account or subscription/billing settings.
- Select “Cancel subscription” (or “Manage plan” → “Cancel”) and confirm.
- Still within the 30-day window? Contact Hide.me support directly to request your refund — most providers process it within 5–10 business days.
Subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play instead? Cancel there — deleting the app alone won't stop billing.
User Ratings
4.5/5
Trustpilot
6k reviews
4.2/5
Google Play
30k ratings
4.5/5
App Store
16k ratings
65%
Community
Reddit sentiment
Ratings sourced from Trustpilot, Google Play Store, and Apple App Store. Community score is derived from Reddit/r/VPN sentiment analysis. Scores are aggregated periodically and may not reflect real-time data.
Verdict
Hide.me is the right choice if Malaysian jurisdiction is important to you, or if you want to start with a free tier before committing. With a 2024 independent audit now on record, it holds its own against Mullvad or ProtonVPN on verifiable privacy. For privacy-first users who need port forwarding, it's one of the most affordable options.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hide.me safe to use?
Hide.me has been independently audited and verified to keep no logs. It uses WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, SoftEther protocols and includes a kill switch to protect your IP if the connection drops. Privacy score: 9.2/10.
How much does Hide.me cost per month?
Hide.me costs $12.99/month on a monthly plan and $4.99/month on an annual plan, or $2.69/month on a 2-year plan. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How many devices can I use with Hide.me?
Hide.me allows up to 10 simultaneous connections. It has native apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, plus Linux and router support.
Does Hide.me work with Netflix?
Yes. Hide.me reliably unblocks Netflix and other major streaming services. Streaming score: 7.4/10.
How do I cancel Hide.me and get a refund?
Cancel Hide.me anytime from your account's subscription or billing settings on its website. Cancel within 30 days of purchase to qualify for a full refund under its money-back guarantee. If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play, cancel there instead — deleting the app alone won't stop billing.
Hide.me vs. Alternatives
| Feature | Hide.me8.1/10 | NordVPN9.2/10 | ExpressVPN8.6/10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Score | 8.1 | 9.2 | 8.6 |
| Monthly Price | $2.69/mo | $3.09/mo | $2.79/mo |
| Servers | 2,600+ | 9,300+ | 3,000+ |
| Countries | 91 | 137 | 105 |
| Simultaneous Devices | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Speed (tested) | 625 Mbps (82%) | 730 Mbps (96%) | 755 Mbps (98%) |
| No-Logs Policy | |||
| Independently Audited | |||
| Kill Switch | |||
| Ad Blocker | |||
| Streaming | |||
| Torrenting / P2P | |||
| Port Forwarding | |||
| Obfuscation | |||
| Double VPN | |||
| RAM-Only Servers | |||
| Jurisdiction | Malaysia (outside 5/9/14 Eyes and EU data retention) | Panama (outside 5/9/14 Eyes) | British Virgin Islands |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
All data verified August 2026.